Missions 'will come in organized,' Dauer says

Updated 12:02 am, Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Photo: Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News

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New Missions manager Rich Dauer, 60, was a former star infielder for the Orioles from 1976-85 and helped the Orioles win the 1983 World Series. Dauer's approach to managing is simple. “We'll come in organized,” he said. “Players see that right away. You can't have any seconds where they don't know what they're doing.”

As Missions general manager Dave Gasaway and the team's new field boss, Rich Dauer, settled behind a makeshift dais and microphone on the second-level concourse at Wolff Stadium on Tuesday, the ping of bats making contact with balls echoed around them.

On the field below, St. Mary's was going through batting practice before an afternoon game at the ballpark.

“I look forward to passing down some of the greatest things I've learned from guys,” said the California native, who has spent the past seven years with the Colorado Rockies organization, including the past four as third base coach. “I've had a fortunate amount of time to meet a lot of great people.”

After being introduced to San Antonio media Tuesday, Dauer, 60, will head to the San Diego Padres' spring training camp in Peoria, Ariz. There, he'll get an advance look at some of the players who will be heading back to San Antonio for Double-A play beginning in early April.

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“We'll come in organized,” he said of his plans for the team, which will be seeking the 13th Texas League championship in franchise history. “Players see that right away. You can't have any seconds where they don't know what they're doing.”

It's a disciplined approach that Dauer learned while playing for Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver for all but two seasons of a 10-year major-league career. Weaver died at 82 last month.

“He was probably the first person to start using statistics, which I was always on the wrong end of,” Dauer said. “Before they had computers and had guys in the front office knowing how to run a computer, he did it.”

Dauer, for his part, will rely on something far less technological.

“I am what I am,” he said, laughing. “All I can do is what I believe is the best way to go — be prepared.”